Another brutal case of gender-based violence has emerged in Thembisa, Ekurhuleni, where a 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by an Uber driver, prompting the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, to intervene.
Chikunga will on Friday attend court proceedings at the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court in the case involving the e-hailing driver accused of raping the teenager.
The case has sent shockwaves through surrounding areas of Ekurhuleni which has in recent weeks been in the spotlight for a string of violent crimes against women and children.
The Ministry said the Minister’s attendance forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen public attention and collective action in response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), particularly violence perpetrated against women and children.
“The Minister’s attendance forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen public attention and collective action in response to Gender-Based violence and Femicide (GBVF), particularly violence perpetrated against women and children,” the Ministry said in a statement.
“The Minister will attend the court proceedings and engage with developments in the matter within the parameters of the judicial process.”
While details of the alleged rape remain limited to protect the identity of the minor, the case is the latest in a disturbing pattern of GBV cases linked to e-hailing services.
Women and girls across Gauteng have reported harassment, abduction and sexual assault involving drivers using ride-hailing platforms, raising urgent questions about vetting, safety features and accountability in the industry.
Gauteng remains the epicentre of GBV in the country.
According to recent crime statistics, the province recorded the highest number of sexual offences in the country, with Tembisa, Ivory Park and Rabie Ridge consistently flagged as hotspots for rape and domestic violence.
Activists say the case of the 17-year-old highlights the vulnerability of young girls who rely on e-hailing services to get to school, work or social activities, often late at night.
“This is not just about one driver, it is about a system that fails women,” said a Thembisa-based GBV activist. “A 17-year-old child trusting a service to get her home safely and ending up allegedly raped is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
The Ministry has in recent months intensified court monitoring in GBV cases as part of its 365-day campaign against GBVF, which seeks to ensure that survivors get justice and that perpetrators are held accountable.
Chikunga has previously called for harsher bail conditions for those accused of GBV, faster turnaround times for DNA evidence, and the blacklisting of e-hailing drivers accused of sexual offences.
Uber South Africa has previously stated that it has zero tolerance for any form of sexual misconduct and that drivers accused of such crimes are immediately removed from the platform pending investigation.
The matter is set down for 11h30.
